One step closer to completion...

Have you ever had a fabric sits on a roll forever because you love it so much and you are too afraid to commit?  No.  Me neither.  This fabric has been tucked away for almost 5 years until recently.  I have been agonizing over what to do for window treatments in our "fish bowl" living room since we moved in and finally decided to pull the trigger.  After seeing them up it's like, what was I waiting for? Now maybe I can move on to the next thing.  Bathroom limbo.  I have had a wallpaper sample hanging by a piece of masking tape next to my mirror in the bathroom for 6 months.  I think I will post the before picture and see what you think.  Have a great weekend with family.  As I write this, I realize that I have yet to eat a Reese's peanut butter egg.  What a waste! I am stopping at Walgreen's on the way home.

Peace out.  db

The Stache is Back

Ah, a quiet day to recoup.  We spent an action packed day installing and styling a super glam condo downtown GR.  It is so pretty.  I will be posting pictures soon.  All black and white and fluffy white carpet and teal and yellow....AHHHH!!!  Hold on.  I think I might black out from such good taste.  Just kidding.  So today I decided to quietly craft and provide emotional support for all of my dreary and depressed weather sufferers.  I am crafting and transporting to my happy place.  Mackinac Island.  I just finished another batch of mustache mirrors today for a cute little boutique on the island.  Since it is pretty much my most favorite place on earth so I'm proud to be representin'.  I hope that I can go and visit them sometime this summer.  Ah, yes.   Summer.  Remember that?  No?  Me neither.  Maybe seeing me posing in front of mustache mirrors will help.  Cheer up, Charlie.  It's gotta get warm someday!

Great Spring recipe on a gloomy day

I was looking for a new recipe this week that would incorporate my springtime obsession for asparagus.  Aside from the fact that recently we discovered that it grills up perfectly on our Cuisinart panini maker (I mean, what can't you make on that amazing thing?) I was ready to move past asparagus as the perfect grill side partner with chicken.  Here is a recipe for asparagus pesto flatbread pizza that I found on foodnetwork.com.  It looked just like the picture when I was finished and it was even better as leftovers the next day which is always a bonus in my book.  Chip was making lots of yummy sounds too while we were eating so I think this one's a keeper.  I made a double batch which worked well considering they usually sell the flatbread crusts in packs of two.  And like I said, the leftovers. Amazing.  Try it and see what you think!

                                                       Asparagus Pesto Flatbread Pizza
                                                               (from Food Network)

1 lb grilled asparagus
1/2 c packed fresh basil + extra for garnish
2 cloves garlic minced
2 Tbsp pine nuts
3/4 c + 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
salt and freshly ground pepper
1/2 c + 4 Tbsp grated Pecorino Romano
1 lb Fontina cheese thinly sliced
1 large prepared pizza shell (I used Meijer 12x12 wheat crusts)

To make pesto:
Combine asparagus, basil, garlic, and pine nuts in a food processor and pulse coarsely to chop.  With the motor running, slowly add the oil until emulsified.  Season with salt and pepper and transfer to a bowl.   Stir in Pecorino Romano.

Put it together:
Place crust on high heat grill and grill until slightly crisp(about 1 minute).  Remove shell and spread with pesto. Top with Fontina and return to grill.  Close and continue cooking(approx 2-3 minutes).  remove and sprinkle with remaining Romano cheese and fresh basil.

Before and After

I just came across this beauty the other day. Let's just say that finding unusual pieces at a reasonable price that I can re-do and re-sell at a reasonable price ain't as easy as you would think these days. Anyway, It had a few issues but after I did some minor surgery it was ready for a new orange I've been dying to try out. I had also been saving these knobs for the right piece. It looks so cute all accessorized. I'd like to think this baby has a date with destiny. What do you think?

Keep it simple.

Hardly a week goes by that we don't have people in the house. We love to have people over to cook and hang out. It almost always includes some great wine, some fun people and the most amazing conversation. Through the years I have learned that the key to a great time is hardly ever about how many ingredients you had to gather from 20 different stores(Thanks a lot, Martha Stewart) but the fact that everyone feels comfortable. Comfort builds conversation and lingering which is the key to a great gathering. I used to make everyone so nervous as I whipped around the kitchen dirtying dishes faster than Chip could wash. No more. We shared this simple supper a couple weeks ago with some dear friends and even though it wasn't complicated, it was beautiful and most of all, fun!

A year later.

Not long ago one of our clients told me that I needed to commit to the blog or remove it from our website. Agreed. The thing that's strange is that I feel like I have been transported in a time machine. I just read my post from April 3 last year. I cannot believe what has transpired. A store that has evolved into the best of dreams, a house that truly feels like my sanctuary and a boatload of friends. New and old. Truth be told, I didn't know what the hell I was doing. We literally spent the year listening to our clients and learning what it is that they wanted and needed. It sounds like we all want the same thing. A comfortable environment that makes us feel safe. A place that we can shut out the world some days and invite it in on others. A place that represents happy. Here are some pictures of that type of place that Chip and I have created. We still have lots that we want to do inside and out but we hope to welcome lots of friends and make many memories.